Question:
I planted Tulip Bulbs four weeks ago and refrigerated others to plant later. Can I leave them in the ground indefinitely, and which will emerge first?Answer:
- Unless we have a warm late fall, they should emerge around the same time because the ground retains heat longer.
- Tulips are grouped into early, mid-season, and late varieties. Species, or botanical tulips, bloom first and have the shortest stems. Parrot and Double Tulips bloom last
- You will also notice that chilled Tulips develop longer stems than non-chilled bulbs.
- Choose mixed or single-color tulips of the same variety, and arrange them by flowering period.
- With staggered planting, plant the early varieties in front and the later ones in back.
- Mid-season Darwin Tulip bulbs are ideal for naturalizing, meaning they stay in the ground year after year and produce large, sturdy, long-lasting blooms.
- The primary threats to bulbs left in the ground are gophers and bulb rot, as these areas are typically replanted in the summer.
- Remove Tulip bulbs once the foliage turns yellow and pulls away from the soil with ease.
- Keep them in paper bags or open boxes until the following year. Apply fertilizer during planting and again after flowering.
NOTE: Although we associate Tulips with Holland, Tulips originated in Central Asia and Turkey and reached Europe through the Ottoman Empire in the 1500s, later fueling the well-known “Tulip Mania” bubble of the 1630s. The “Tulip Mania” craze emerged during the 1630s, driven by Dutch Golden Age prosperity and the arrival of exotic varieties. At their height, certain bulbs reached values similar to a house, with one Semper Augustus bulb valued at about $1,500 today. Futures contracts also contributed, allowing buyers to reserve bulbs before harvest and helping the bubble grow. The February 1637 collapse sparked a rapid price decline and widespread financial disaster for many investors. Even now, “Tulip Mania” is cited alongside many speculative bubbles and Ponzi schemes today.
Question:
We recently transplanted a one-year-old Mexican Sage. I understand it goes dormant and looks poor until spring pruning, but since it sits in a visible spot at the front of our yard, what happens if we trim it before dormancy? How low should we cut it now, given it is about three feet tall? Would you advise this approach?Answer:
- Mexican Sage is an evergreen perennial that remains active year-round. Cool nights can make the foliage look unattractive, though this may not happen in late December or January, depending on your area.
- In some winters, it may not occur at all. It is ultimately your judgment call about what to do now. Because it sits in a prominent spot, I would wait for damage to appear before pruning.
- Then I’d cut it back to the ground. Mexican Sage lacks lateral branching; all growth develops from the base. Ultimately, the decision is yours.